The principle of blindly delivering packets of data, regardless of origin, destination or contents, is welded into the network’s technical foundations. This, more than anything else, explains why the internet has become such a fountain of innovation.
Yet with the internet becoming more crowded and traffic-management tools improving, this principle—known today as “network neutrality”—is under threat.
They fret that rent-seeking network operators would abuse their market power. Prices would shoot up for those using the fast lanes; everyone else would get much cheaper, but much crummier, service.
The best way to do this is to encourage vigorous competition in all parts of the internet, particularly between broadband providers, so that none can become a bottleneck and exploit that position.